more on potential ellen/alex legal case

[chick2]

i found this in the online at the london times website

The Sunday Times - World

January 09, 2005

Hollywood lesbian affair ends with duel on the legal frontier
John Harlow, Los Angeles
HELL hath no fury like a Hollywood lesbian scorned. The former girlfriend of Ellen DeGeneres is considering legal action against both the comedian and her new lover, the Ally McBeal actress Portia de Rossi, in a case that could redraw the boundaries of romantic strife in America.

Alexandra Hedison, 35, is said to have been shocked after 46-year-old DeGeneres asked her to leave the Los Angeles home they had shared for four years. De Rossi, 31, moved in before Christmas. Hedison is now taking advice from Trope and Trope, a Los Angeles law firm that has represented stars from Cary Grant to Jennifer Lopez. Its lawyers have shown how she could seek revenge and riches with a “twin attack” on the new couple.

DeGeneres met de Rossi on a photo-shoot last summer. At that point de Rossi, the ice-cool lawyer Nelle in Ally McBeal, was preparing to “marry” her girlfriend Francesca Gregorini, the stepdaughter of Ringo Starr. They broke up last month.

Legal sources say Hedison, a photographer, could file legal papers this spring, beginning with a palimony action against DeGeneres. But Hedison is also said to be considering suing de Rossi for “alienation of affection”, a legal stratagem dating back to frontier days when seducing a spouse was regarded as theft.

“She would have to prove the seduction took place in those states which still recognise the law, like on holiday in Hawaii,” said Richard Barry, of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. “If she can do that, she could cause a lot of financial damage.”

DeGeneres, meanwhile, has moved to crush speculation about tensions with her ex-lover. “I still love and care tremendously for her and we are working together on the ending of our relationship on that level and intend to keep it private,” she said in a statement.

[belacb]

This sucks

[Kerry]

Actually I will be so damn happy if Ellen has to get into this case. lol. Not that I'm "evil". But I feel bad for Alex. She is such a good nautred person. Ellen should be thankful for that.

[ulsoccer]

Ya, i just hope this doesn't turn in to some bitter, angry thing where they do things just to spite eachother. That would be really sad. Breakups seem to be soo much worse when lawyers are involved.

[parksy]

Everything comes down to money, doesn't it?..........99.99% of lesbian split ups end in rows, different friends and CD's being argued over.
The article is a classic example of greed in celebrity status, not love which is where it all started - how quick things change.
They will only ruin each others lives even more and get to hate each other...
I am sure Ellen will give her some of her money anyway, (she has plenty) then in a years time they will all be best friends again. I love Alex too but they are adults....The lawyers are the only winners here!! :(

[Monst83]

IF Ellen cheated on Alex and did what the media is saying she did, then more power to Alex for sticking it to them both. It seemed helped ellen pick up the pieces after Ann finished with her, and put HER life on hold to assist Ellen on what she was doing. Go get 'em Alex. :twisted:

[Monst83]

I think the "galimony" issue may be closer to truth than expected. I just read on www.imdb.com under the news section that Alex may be researching if any legal action can be taken on Ellen and Portia if the rumors are true.

[haokan]

that's kinda weird though.. it means that Ellen really ditched Alex for Portia. And that Alex is very mad!! But does anyone know if Alex is rich? Would she do that just for the money or because she really wants to get back at them?

Apparently she also wants to sue Portia for having stolen her lover!!
What a mess!! :roll:

[trixibelle]

Tis all speculation. Alex was probably seen walking into the lawyers' offices, and someone decides it can ONLY be because Alex wants to sue Ellen for galimony. She may have been re-writing her Will or something. Who knows?

[belacb]

One thing is for sure, if this is true its going to be messy....I just hope for both their sakes its not true..

[freetibet3]

For everyone's sake, I hope the rumors of legal action are fallacious, but if this law suit actually comes to fruition, I can think of one positive implication. Now, let's assume that Alex wins that she deserves some amount of alimony becasue she was part of a committed relationship where support (emotional, monetary ect) was promised. Current palimony statutes, typically called "pillow talk" law, are particularly weak, especially in California, because most can't prove that the relationship had some kind of permanent contract. Let me clarify one important distiction: alimony is awarded to divoced persons and the court can enforce payment ect; palimony is awarded to split up, non-married couples, and in California, any kind of money or other support can't be enforced by the court. Unfortunately in America, this case falls under the palimony category, since our neo-conservative, fundamentalist government believes in the oppression of same sex couples. (Sorry, I had a need for a political rant) Back on topic. A ruling for Alex, which would no doubt be quite a public event, would no doubt start the debate for some kind official contract of commitment between same sex couples to avoid any vagueness in areas of (p)alimony suits. While not quiet marrige, serious discussion about civil unions or things of that nature, are a good thing. Further, a legal ruling that same sex couples are responsible for their relationships, sets a precedent that the state does, in a sense, recognize the commitment of two people of the same sex.

I am just trying to find the bright side of the situation, however, maybe I am a little bit too optimistic.

[belacb]

I am sure this is a groundbraking event Ellen does not want to be a part of....

[EllenRules]

"We are working together on the ending of our relationship on that level and intend to keep it private. And it's important to add that we have every intention of being in each other's lives."



I just read this online. Its a quote from Ellen herself

DeGeneres continued: "Life is full of surprises, and no one knows what tomorrow brings. This is not easy, but we are really working on handling this in a healthy, private way. And it should go without saying that we continue to respect and honor one another. We both supported and helped each other through some very hard times, and that support is still there."

Hedison also expressed her ongoing feelings for DeGeneres.

"Even though this is a difficult time, I love her and will always want what's best for her," she told the Advocate.

DeGeneres reportedly met de Rossi, whose real name is Amanda Rogers, on a photo-shoot last summer. At that time, de Rossi was preparing to "marry" her girlfriend Francesca Gregorini, the daughter of actress Barbara Bach and stepdaughter of Ringo Starr. The couple broke up last month.

The split between DeGeneres and Hedison is not the only high-profile breakup for Ellen.

In 2000, DeGeneres called it quits with another Hollywood actress, Anne Heche, sparking a huge media frenzy.

DeGeneres went public with her homosexuality in 1997, coinciding with the same revelation from the character she portrayed on the ABC-TV series "Ellen."

[scrump54]

Firsty this is a UK paper and I am from the UK and I havent seen anything in the papers about the breakup, other than the article in the sunday times about Alex sueing. Secondly this is the source of the article and other websites are quoting from this, I don't understand why the UK paper has picked up on this.

[kittykatscanner]

:( sounds like tthe martina navratilova thing that happened in the 80's. i think it makes the lesbian community look silly. (awww....look they couldn't deal with the break up so the one is gonna sue the other) especially if she sues portia (even if she is a dog). maybe couples should come up with a legal document stating that if one cheats on the other, they have to pay so much, kinda like a prenuptial agreement. I understand one being angry and tring to deal with their grief, but a lawsuit seems a bit immature.

[Saintsfan]

Not sure if this is gonna work this is my first time but here goes anyhow.
Thinking along the same lines myself earlier,Kitty, Martina is another person I greatly admire and inspired me.

[scrump54]

Theres only one paper reporting it and I don't think it is reliable.

[scrump54]

Not sure if this is gonna work this is my first time but here goes anyhow.
Thinking along the same lines myself earlier,Kitty, Martina is another person I greatly admire and inspired me.

Welcome saintsfan

[Saintsfan]

Thanks Scrump good to be here, I think you/re right about the newspaper reports etc , you know what the British press is like though, I'm alittle suprised it was in one of the broadsheets, just wait for the tabloids!!!!

[scrump54]

hey jus found this on web

No Ellen galimony

Ellen DeGeneres' ex-girlfriend Alexandra Hedison says she has no plans to file a galimony suit against the comic and her new lover, actress Portia de Rossi.

London's Sunday Times reported this week that Hedison, 35, has been consulting with lawyers at Trope & Trope, the L.A. law firm that has represented stars from Cary Grant to Jennifer Lopez.

The paper also reported that Hedison was considering suing de Rossi for "alienation of affection," a vintage legal term for unlawful seduction.

But a spokeswoman for Trope & Trope said Hedison appears nowhere on its client list. And a source close to DeGeneres says Hedison has assured her that she has no plans to sue.

"She and Ellen still speak every day," a friend tells us. "They get along great."

Did you really believe it ?

[Saintsfan]

Well for all I hope this is true Scrumps-sad enough as it is.

[mom_of_12]

Once again, until it is a majority "vote", it appears to be wise to wait before believing anything as truth. Usually though, there is a grain of truth found in rumour, & I can see both sides as being potentially true, but as none of the other papers have yet jumped on the bandwagon, I wonder...

As far as it potentially making the lesbian community look silly, no, it really doesn't. When you think of all the angry hetero couples creating similar waves, it (if true) really shouldn't have any more impact than the other sensational break-ups. Immature? I don't know about that tag. Granted, we are likely to disagree here, but my view is this: if one invests their all into a relationship, expecting permanence only to find momentary/long-term indifference & "cheating", following the boot, should that really go w/ a label of approval ("silence")? By doing nothing, Alex's message would essentially be that it is okay to dump another whenever a head is turned. That (if true) sends out a negative message about the community: every relationship is disposable & it is a free-for-all in the love wars. There need to be standards set & they followed through on. It is more the "disposable" perception that will hurt the community than a lawsuit to gain justice.

[ellenstar]

Well said mom-of-12.

I totally agree with you on this. I agree that there is always something in 'rumours', but just hope that this all can be amicably sorted out between Ellen and Alex. Having been there I know how Alex must feel right now, but this is 'life' and unfortunately it does go on.

It doesn't change my feelings for Ellen in that respect, it is her life and she will get on with it how she wishes to do. I am still a great fan of hers and always will be.

I just hope that it does not affect her career as it did when she came out with "Ellen". Would not like to see her career go down the drain like it did then.